The
mention of the word ‘Burgundy’ — Bourgogne to the
French — conjures up many images. To some, the first thing
that springs to mind is wine, from the crisp whites of Chablis
to the prestigious reds of the Côte D’Or — Nuits-St-George,
Pommard, Aloxe-Corton and Puligny-Montrachet being but a few.
And do not forget Kir, the traditional aperitif of Burgundy, made
from Cassis blackcurrant liqueur from Dijon and Bourgogne Aligote
white wine. Others will think of food — boeuf bourguinon,
burgundy snails, Dijon mustard are just some of the speciailities
ripe for discovery by gourmets.
The
countryside encompasses the rolling hills of the Mâconais
and Chalonais in the south; the wild Morvan plateau to the north-west;
and of course the steepsided côtes of the prestigious wine
districts around Beaune. The countryside is criss-crossed with
canals, tiny lanes and bikepaths, and the scenery is divided between
perfectly tended vinyards, fields of wheat, maize and sunflowers,
and the forests used for making the prized french oak wine barrels.
Many rivers and streams spring from the plateau and feed the Seine
to the north and the Saone and Rhone to the south, and many of
which have been dammed to provide the area with many lakes. Man
has also had an impact with the creation of a network of canals
across the region, many of which provide cycling opportunities
along their towpaths.
Burgundy
has more than its fair share of man made glories, dating from
the 8C BC when Celts invaded from what is present day Austria.
Incorporated into the Roman empire in the 1st century, the Gallo-Roman
civilisation expanded and left its mark on the landscape. The
first Christian churches were built as early as the 4th century.
Magnificent abbeys were founded at Cluny and Vézelay in
the 10th C, and in the later middle ages cathedrals sprang up
at Auxerre, Autun and Dijon. The burgeoning wine trade resulted
in superb architecture for the wealthy merchants who built stunning
houses and public buildings in Beaune, Auxerre, Dijon and Autun.
Our
tour takes in all the varied aspects of Burgundy, both natural
and man-made and we make sure that you don't miss out on the regional
gastronomic delights! The
cycling ranges from easy on some days to moderate on others, but
should be comfortably achievable for anyone of reasonable fitness.
